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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Stefon Diggs #8 of the New England Patriots tries to hype the offense against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs stirred controversy during his time with the Buffalo Bills with a series of cryptic actions on social media, and now he’s doing the same with the New England Patriots.
The All-Pro wide receiver set off months of speculation near the end of his tenure with the Bills as he hinted at discontentment with the team. It came to a head in March 2024, when the Bills traded Diggs to the Houston Texans and started anew in their wide receiver room.
While it’s not clear if there’s any tension between Diggs and his latest team, the receiver is starting controversy again after purging his Instagram page of all content.
Stefon Diggs Goes Dark on Social Media
As Jordy McElroy of USA Today’s Patriots Wire noted, Diggs decided to delete his entire footprint on Instagram.
“New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has apparently undergone a social media cleanse after purging all of his posts on Instagram,” McElroy wrote.
The move comes at an interesting time for Diggs, who had a strong season during the team’s run to the Super Bowl but has not secured a place in the future of the team. McElroy noted that there are persistent rumors the Patriots could cut ties with Diggs and reap the cap benefits.
“This move comes at a time when Diggs’ future in New England is currently up in the air,” McElroy wrote. “The former four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is slated to count $26.5 million against the salary cap in 2026, which is the second-highest on the team behind star defensive tackle Milton Williams.”
Diggs’ move did not go unnoticed. Many Patriots fans and followers took note, pointing out that the receiver was known for expressing discontentment before he exited teams. Bills general manager Brandon Beane famously called the Minnesota Vikings to inquire about a trade after Diggs made a cryptic remark on Twitter, hinting at his desire for a fresh start.
Others suggested that Diggs may have wiped his social media presence to focus on the start of a new NFL year, an action that other players have done as they work to focus on the task ahead of them.
Stefon Diggs Faces Other Trouble
Diggs is facing some legal troubles after facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges related to a December incident where police say he assaulted a former personal chef.
Diggs could face a possible suspension, as the NFL has the power to punish players accused of domestic assault, even if it does not result in formal charges or a conviction.
The Patriots wide receiver denied the charges, saying through attorney Mitchell Schuster that he planned to vigorously defend the charges in court.
“I don’t think there will be a [plea] deal because I don’t think he is liable or guilty in any way, shape or form,” Schuster said, via ESPN.
Diggs also faces a civil lawsuit from a man claiming that Diggs defamed him after he was accused of orchestrating a car theft.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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